It’s that time of year again. TV stations are beginning the mad rush for the hottest pilots that will clinch Fall season bragging rights. The 2006 Fall season saw Daybreak and Six Degrees, two shows which didn’t survive into the New Year.
First at bat are Fox and CBS. Fox is looking to continue its run as one of the be-all-end-all stations. Already with a host of star powered ratings killers (24, Prison Break, American Idol, etc), Fox is quickly looking to become the Yankees of TV (am I a Yankees fan? That’s none of your business. Get over it. It’s a metaphor). Fox has picked up a sci-fi drama called Them, based on the graphic novel to be directed by Jonathan Mostow. A surprising choice given the CW network is more the sci-fi station, while Fox typically tries to stick to the gritty realities of life.
CBS is not taking this war lying down. They’ve given the “wink and the gun” on two pilots. The first is a LA based cop show called Protect and Serve, created by Gary Scott Thompson. The second batter up for CBS is a single camera comedy called The Captain. The story revolves around a writer who makes it big and moves to Hollywood. Guess this is kind of like Entourage meets the Jeffersons.
Who will win in the all out ratings war come November? Can’t be called yet, but the Bag Man is looking forward to an entertaining battle.
